France Feb 15 1918 My Dear Mother Don't think I'll start my letter this time with "Just the usual few lines" for on this occasion have just a few extra lines to add and let you know about my leave and how the people are in Scotland. Am quite aware Uncle John wrote you when I was in glasgow so did not take time to write you while on leave. Let me tell you first my leave was entirely unexpected. I was expecting it about June or July and then intended to go to Paris or Rome but as the opportunity was thrust before me and feeling that the change would do me good I decided to take it. As soon as I got to London I had the usual Turkish bath and clean change and next day went to Wesley to call on Alen and Fraser Elliott and a number of other boys who I knew were down there training for their Commission. Now Im away ahead of myself already, when I got to Boulange on my way over managed to get away while working for the boot and run over to No 3 to see Miss McLaren. Had no trouble in seeing her at all. But me with my mud and dirt and lack of general cleanliness did not feel at all at ease in her ladylike presence. Told her about Agnes and also of her brother whom I had seen just recently and talked with her for about an hour. Although I enjoyed talking with her very much, on account of my general dirtiness was glad to get away and mix in with the other 3000 souls or so as dirty as myself. Alen Elliot and Fraser were both fine and I can tell you I was glad to see them especially7 so when Alen said he had been up home just before he came away and had a chat with you all. I felt very much just then like continuing my journey and going to Canada, but that will come in time no doubt. From there I went back to London and then to Epping to see Joe. Epping is about 30 miles from London. Joe was up and walking around and came back to the station with me. He told me about his fun when he went over with the tanks and of his would, etc. He's not going to take out his Commission. I saw him again before I left for France. In London and spent the day with him and then saw him up home to Glasgow. Ofter I left Joe, went back to London and then up to Glasgow and then I began to rest and take things easy. Stayed at Uncle John Dalziels all of the time except one day went to Ardnossan. Guess Aunt Maggie and Grandpa will have written you all about it, so will not trouble you with a repetition. Aunt Maggie came with nan and I back to the station after dinner. After dinner Grandpa and I walked over to the churchyard. He was tired out when I left him and had to go to bed and lie down. Spent the next few days in Glasgow and stayed indoors most of the time except on Saturday night we all went to the show and had a fine time watching the fun as it was the last night of the pantomime. The Roses and bottles of perfume the leading lady gathered in was awful. She threw us a bunch afterwards (looking at Uncle) who is a rare old sport. Had a real pleasant surprise just the day before I left. Aunt Agnes walks calmly up to me and puts a parcel in my hand. A solid silver (goldplated inside) cigarette case. I treasure it as one of the finest gifts and although they wanted me to take it with me I insisted on leaving it there as "I didna wanta take it awa to France wi ma". So they are going to hae it engraved for me and I am surely going to call back for it after the war and have a holiday "out of khackie" if possible. Well at last I had to leave and come back to London where I was to meet Joe on his way up to Glasgow on leave. Spent the day with him (that's about all we did spend) and saw him start away on the train. Did not see Alen or Fraser again but ran across Alen Dower and two more boys in the 19th. Also Geo Simpson who was on his way up to Edinburgh after have leave in Canada to get married. I was not sorry to leave London. It is a miserable miserable place, not a friendly face unless piles of money. I used to think it was wonderful with its tubes, its taxis and cabs and bustle and hustle. Sit at a restraunt. No you cant have this. Your on your honor not to eat too much. I was even told that in a YMCA while having my last meal and the next one, perhaps bully and biscuits 24 hours later. Apart from the killing of women and children when bombing I could almost stand in the middle of the street and clap my hands at every bomb. Just think soldiers in France for over two and three years still cheerful and carefree, fighting and risking their lives with a smile and the presence of a plane over London sends them crushing into a tube with such haste that a number are killed in the crush. If the soldiers were as chicken hearted the war would have been finished long ago. Was very pleased when I got back to find such a fine bunch of mail and a parcel No 6. You don't know what mail means to us. Oh and yes two 5 franc notes. Thank you Marion and Agnes. Marion will be pleased to know Ive stopped shooting crap and poker even as a pastime. Had a letter from Winnifred Jackson together with a little snap which Agnes asked her to send. Agnes, again thankyou!! She surely looks the part of a happy healthy and charmingly young girl. How old is she??? She forget to tell me. But I suppose I'll have to ask her that myself. Anyway I have her address now and you wont see how often I write her anyway. I think I told you the Ladies Aid Parcel arrived. Didn't I Mother. Im sure I did. Father tells me they have not yet redeived my acknowledgement. If they knew I start in to work at nine in the morning and twelve and even one at night fine me still going perhaps they'll excuse me. Is Father by any chance Secretary of the Ladies Aid? That one under the belt isnt it? Ha. Ha. I have about twelve Christmas parcels yet to acknowledge. This will be done in my yearly letter. I think if I were to send a parcel and I had a good idea it would get there I should not worry over receiving a letter. The deed is done and whether you get credit in this world doesn't matter one jot. You don't know how much appreciated the parcels which you have sent some of which I know Ive never acknowledged and even some of your letters. You might not know now but you will sometime. Im going to try and finish this in bed. So if you find difficulty in reading you will understand. Its now about 12.30. I have just finished my work. By arrangement the other chap gets up first in the morning and brings in breakfast. A piece of bacon, a piece of bread and some tea. Always the same has been for three years. I will keep Percy Blackmores address and also [?] but I do not get a chance to get out much so do not expect to see them. Hope you are having better weather now and the cold has not worried you too much. We have had it cold for a while but the winter here is much like our March weather. Had a nice letter from Edna Spence along with yours which I will answer as soon as possible. She tells me Jack is in the Flying Corps. He was a youngster when I left and I thought Charlie Hewson and he and the Vice boys would never see France. Oh well Mother Im sure it cannot last another two years at the most. The shortage of necessities will be too great to allow of it to continue more. It is very difficult for me to write lying down, so think I'll close now. With kindest love to you all. Your loving son John (who watches over me?) X (circled) a goodnight kiss